Deadline Deadbeat
Posted on Oct 27, 2011 in Business Basics, Freelancing 101 | 8 comments
Life has been a poop storm recently. Between the move, some major projects, some personal obstacles and the fact that I have the immune system of a two week old baby, I’ve had more than my fair share of stuff to deal with. I’m not complaining. I’m a very fortunate person that gets to eat as much as she wants everyday, loves what she does and has someone big and hairy to snore next me every night. I’ve lived much worse lives. But, the last few months and especially last month has been challenging.
My biggest regret throughout the whole time has been that I’ve missed a few deadlines here and there. Not my major ones, but I may have flaked for day or two on something I’d say I’d get done for a friend or been late getting in a guest post for someone. I was really late on a magazine assignment but I was able to give the editor prior notice so he was fine with waiting a couple of days.
No harm, no foul? Nope.
Reliability is one of the tent poles of my personality and I pride myself on timeliness. If you ask anyone about me, they’ll tell you I like to eat, curse, and be on time. Being late for things gives me hives. In fact, I’ve been known to show up to friends’ homes so early that I had to park two streets over and read my book for a bit until I could actually show up at a not-crazy time. (Not that I’m trying to convince people I’m not crazy. They already know that. I’m just aware that it would be incredibly awkward it would be for me to show up an hour before we agreed upon and expect you to be ready.)
Not Everybody Feels This Way
Over the last few months, I’ve taken on managing editor and community manager duties for a few projects. I’ve been a freelancer for a long time but suddenly I’m on the other side of the table. Suddenly, I’m the one thinking “Ok, where is this chick with this article?” And I have to say it kinda sucks. You know what’s worse than being late with something? Being late because the person that was supposed to provide you with piece or information is late.
I’m a big advocate of freelancing the way you want and I’d like us all to be less judgy with one another. But, I have to say that the freelancer who can’t meet deadlines is going to be a broke freelancer. Clients will not rehire you. You will develop a reputation in your industry or niche as a flake. You will ruin relationships and contacts because no one wants to be associated with you. All in all, it’s just not a good look for anyone who expects to run a successful freelancing business.
I’m fortunate that the editor for the magazine I was very late for enjoys my work and has significant past experience with me so he knows this isn’t my normal thing. Some of those other deadlines for projects I was donating my time to or unpaid guest post work but those people knew my situation constraints and were willing to work with it.
However, I would understand if they said “Hey, if you can’t get your crap in on time, Princess, we can’t use you.”
Because, that’s what I say to people who flake on me more than once. I don’t accept your articles, approve your queries or allow you to promote yourself in my magazine stories. I’ve had to do this to several people–some of who I considered my friends. It didn’t feel good for either of us but I definitely knew I was doing the right thing. Other times, I’ve been in the position to hand another freelancer high-paying, steady freelance work and couldn’t do it because I felt that person would flake out and make me look bad in the process.
A Commitment is a Commitment
There are some people who think that nonpaying work or a guest post is something you can flake out of with no guilt. I think that’s baloney. I would never tell anyone to work for free or for less than they believe they should, but we all know that some opportunities aren’t about money. I always ask what’s in it for me and sometimes the return isn’t monetary but still valuable. Whatever the reason you agreed to a commitment, the fact that it’s non-paid doesn’t make it go away. It may put it lower on your priority list but it doesn’t fall off. If you said you’d do it, you still look bad when you fail to deliver.
Treat it like it’s important because it’s probably important to them. Call that person or email them before the deadline. (Hopefully, well before the deadline!) Explain the situation and offer a solution. I guarantee you that it will be better received than “What guest post?” when they email you the day after you blew the deadline.
But Back to My Deadbeat Status
My problem was not that I didn’t respect other people’s time. It was that I had overbooked myself. I had no idea that my life would be different in NYC. I literally thought that I would pack up my stuff and resume my life 800 miles later. (Albeit, with a much more expensive price tag.) I didn’t realize that my time would be so much more precious here. Between my paying work, my passion projects and my personal commitments, I barely had time to breathe already. Throw in all the things I’d promise to do and I was drowning.
But that’s not anyone’s fault but my own. “No” is a two letter, one syllable word that never killed anybody. I could have very well said “Sorry, I just don’t have time to do that. But, listen, if you check with me in November, I’ll have more free time.” Instead, I piled on work like some demented hermit crab trying to create the ultimate pimped out shell and almost broke my back in the process.
My back is doing just fine now but my credibility may be a little bruised in some places. Still, I’m a smart cookie who works hard so I know that’s just temporary. My work ethic speaks for itself and the reputation will follow. The one thing I do know that being a deadline deadbeat is not in my plans.
Photo Credit: Alan Cleaver
8 Comments
*Raises hand* guilty. In fact, I owe you a piece right now….
Melissa recently posted..The History of the Ampersand
Ha! What you don’t know is that I faked your deadline and wasn’t expecting it until the weekend.
P.S. Jones recently posted..Even More Boobs
I beat myself up hard over deadlines too. Fortunately, I have built enough of a reputation with my clients that, if I do need another couple of days, they are almost always willing to give it because they trust me.
But I have worked with a lot of deadline deadbeats in the past. For a number of years, I worked in the communications division of a corporate entity and we had a lot of large projects that involved a lot of divisions. There were group deadlines, agreed upon by everyone, and yet every other division was almost always late with the materials they had to submit before the writing could begin. The final deadline was always met, only because the writers and designers were forced to scramble to get our portions completed in a shortened timeframe.
So despite the fact that I sometimes miss a deadline, I generally have very little patience for people who do that.
Julie Nilson recently posted..If the Networks Only Listened to Me
I agree, Julie. It’s old quick when you’re on the other side of the table.
P.S. Jones recently posted..Boob Stories Book Updates
I believe in keeping commitments as well, but have on occasion missed a deadline. Since I know how missed deadlines can impact a project, I do my best to meet the obligation regardless of what may be going on. Sometimes it means missing a few hours of sleep and/or being MIA for a few days.
Deirdre Jones recently posted..Expanding Your Horizons (Income Potential) As a Freelance Writer
Right. I hate being up past midnight. (It makes me feel like a crackhead.) But I’ve stayed up until 4am to finish a project on time. If I screwed up, then I deserve to have to stay up all night working.
P.S. Jones recently posted..Read, Read, Read the Contract
I’m like you … I hate being late and pride myself on reliability. I think what makes this post so good, and what helps to bolster your credibility further, Princess, is that you’re owning it. Especially since the circumstances that made you unable to meet some commitments is totally understandable. True flakes don’t realize that they’re wasting clients’ or colleagues’ time. They continue to be unreliable until they are, as you say, broke. Conscientiousness is not just dependability; it is being courageous enough to raise your hand and say, “I effed up, sorry, and here’s what I’m doing about it.”
If clients or prospects are remotely human, they’ll not only understand, they’ll respect you more for it. I would!
Mahesh Raj Mohan recently posted..Freelance Writer: Television Writing
Good point. True flakes always have an excuse why it’s not their fault and don’t acknowledge their part in it.